Pumping system



Sept. 24, 1957 e. A. PATTERSON PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 24. 1955Ina/677A)? meww United States Patent PUMPING SYSTEM Glenn A. Patterson,Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Red Jacket Manufacturing Co., Davenport,Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application August 24, 1955, Serial No.538,310

13 Claims. (Cl. 103-6) This invention relates to water systems of thetype in which water is pumped from a well or the like to a pneumaticpressure storage means and thence passes to service, the pump andstorage means being automatically controlled.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a water systemwherein the conventional storage tank is eliminated and the water isstored below ground.

Another object is the provision of a water system wherein the water isstored under pneumatic pressure within the well casing.

A further object is to provide a complete water system located at thewell so that the electrical wiring and controls may be remote frombuildings.

Another object is to provide a water system wherein all portions of thesystem are under greater than atmospheric pressure to eliminatepossibility of leakage into the system.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through a well showing theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section showing the pitless undergrounddischarge unit, the packer and the riser pipe, and 1 Fig. 3 is afragmentary section of a modified form showing the well seal and thepitless underground discharge unit.

This is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No.414,449, filed March 5, 1954, entitled Pumping System, and now abandonedin favor of the present application.

The invention contemplates the provision of a complete water systemdirectly at the well which may be and usually is located at a distancefrom a building as is commonly required by well codes permittingelectrical wiring to be conducted directly from an outside transformerto the Well and eliminating the necessity for the wiring to enter thehouse or the like. While the embodiment herein shown is arranged for usewith a submersible type pump, the invention is not to be construed aslimited thereto since other specific pump structures may be, embodiedtherein within the scope of the invention.

Referring first to the Figure 1, there is shown a well casing whichextends from a point above the ground down into the well opening inaccordance with standard practice in cased wells. The well casingincludes a conventional casing tube 5 for the well, the upper end ofwhich terminates at a point such as indicated at 6, below the frostlevel in the ground. Attached to the top of the casing tube in a watertight manner is a pitless underground unit indicated generally by thenumeral 7 which customarily comprises a discharge head assembly 8 and acasing extension 9 of somewhat greater inside diameter than the casingtube, the casing extension extending to a point above the ground level.

Disposed within the discharge head 8 is a packer unit Patented Sept. 24,1957 or thimble indicated generally by the numeral 11 (see Fig. 2) whichis constructed to form a casing seal across the discharge head andcomprises a casting having a chamber 12 communicating with an annularpassage 13 in the discharge body 14 of the head assembly. The dischargebody has a service pipe 14a leading therefrom and communicating with thepassage 13. The thimble has spaced annular grooves 15 and 16 carryingO-ring seals 17 and 18 cooperating with a bore on the inside of thedischarge body to seal the interface between the thimble and thedischarge body above and below the annular passage 13. The dischargebody has an annular shoulder 19 against which the lower side of thethimble bears for the purpose of supporting the thimble and associatedmechanism in the well.

A delivery pipe 21 has its upper end threaded into the thimble 11 andcommunicates with the chamber 12, the lower end of the delivery pipebeing threaded into a packer indicated generally by the numeral 22(Fig. 1) which forms a casing seal below the thimble to define a fluidreservoir there between. The delivery pipe has an inlet opening 21a inthe side thereof adjacent its lower end for the passage of water fromthe reservoir to the pipe. The packer comprises a body 23 having upperand lower plates 24 and 25 secured thereto by cap screws 26,conventional cup leathers 27 being interposed between the body and theplates and bearing against the inner surface of the casing to effect aseal. The lower end of the delivery pipe 21 is threaded into the plate24 thereby interconnecting the thimble and the packer. The body 23 has acentral opening 28 in which is mounted a conventional valve seat 29 andcarries a spring-pressed check valve 31 supported in a conventional cage32 secured in the opening in the usual manner. The upper plate 24 iscentrally apertured in registration with the opening 28 of the body.

The lower plate 25 has a central threaded opening for the reception of ariser pipe 33 positioned for communication with the space above thepackerby way of the central opening 28 in the body. The riser pipe 33extends from the packer downwardly into the well, and in this instanceis connected to a pump 34 (Fig. 1) immersed in the water of the wellhaving therein a check valve 30, a conventional bleeder valve 35 beinginterposed in the pipe. The invention is herein illustrated inconnection with a pump of the type in which the pump and motor are bothsubmerged in the water of the well, but it will be understood that thisform of pump is selected for purpose of illustration and the inventionmay be embodied with other well known types of pumps.

Attached to the upper side of the thimble 11, in communication with acentral passage 36 is a drop pipe 37 which extends upwardly through thecasing extension 9 and through a conventional well seal 38 closing theupper end of the casing extension. Suitably a pipe T 41 is secured tothe upper end of the drop pipe 37 and supports a conventional pressureswitch 42 through suitable fittings 43. Through this means the pressureswitch 42 communicates with the upper end of the reservoir through thedrop pipe 37, the T 41 and fittings 43. Also carried above the well sealis a conventional control box 44 housing the usual controls for themotor of the pump, such as the motor starting switch, capacitors andoverload protection device. The control box is mounted on a pipe 45threaded into an opening 46 in the thimble 11 and extending upwardlythrough the seal. The pipe 45 communicates with a pipe 47 which extendsbetween the thimble and the packer 22, and is threaded into the packerin communication with an opening 48 in the packer, to provide a conduitextending from the control box through the packer for the passage of acable 49 comprising the usual electrical conduits, this cable extendingfrom the control box down through the well and connecting to the motorand pump 34. The control box 44 and pressure switch 42 are connectedtogether and to a suitable source of power such as the commercial powerdistribution lines through conductors such as indicated at 51. The pipe45 is open to atmosphere through the control box so that this conduitserves to admit air to the well casing below the packer.

The well seal 38 on the upper end of the casing extension may be of anydesired construction suitable for forming an effective casing seal toprevent the passage of fluid. The embodiment shown comprises an upperplate 52 having a peripheral recess for the reception of the upper endof the casing extension and to provide a flange for the reception ofbolts 53 which pass through an annular flange 54 welded to the exteriorof the casing extension to secure the seal to the casing extension. Adisk-shaped gasket 56 is disposed against the undersurface of the plate52 and a second plate 57 is provided on the underside of the gasket. Theplates and gasket have openings for the passage of the pipes 37 and 45and a plurality of cap screws 58 pass through the upper plate and gasketand are threaded into the lower plate so that when the cap screws aredrawn up the resilient gasket is compressed and expanded to effect afluid seal around the pipes and against the inner face of the casingextension. Suitably a plate 59 is attached to the well seal by the bolts53, the plate carrying a housing 61 enclosing the controls forprotection against the elements.

The space between the thimble and the packer forms a pressure storagechamber for storing water under pneumatic pressure, water passing fromthe pump into this chamber through the riser pipe 33 and past the checkvalve 31, the check valve closing when the motor stops to retain thewater in the reservoir under pressure. Air is supplied to the chamber bymeans of an air charging device comprising the bleeder valve and asnifter valve 62. This snifter valve is of the usual construction andnormally comprises a ball spring pressed against a seat. The sniftervalve is connected to an oflset passage 63 communicating with thechamber 29 of the packer, being arranged to open against the action ofthe spring to admit air into the passage 28 below the check valve. andlikewise into the riser pipe 33. With this arrangement, when the pumpstops at the end of a pumping cycle, the bleeder valve 35 opens in theusual way permitting the water held in the riser pipe between thebleeder valve and the check valve 31 to bleed out, this snifter valve 62permitting entrance of air. Thus, within a comparatively short space oftime, that portion of the riser pipe between the bleeder valve and thecheck valve will become filled with air. Consequently, when the pumpstarts on its next pumping cycle, the upwardly'moving column of water inthe riser pipe forces this air past the check valve and into thepressure chamber.

The air charging system just described is of the type in which an excessof air is charged into the chamber. With such systems means is providedto release the excess of air, and in the present embodiment thiscomprises an automatic air volume control. In the embodiment shown thiscomprises a vent tube 64 threaded into a pipe bushing 65 in the T 41 andextending down through the pipe 37 and passage 36 into the reservoir.The bushing 65 has a plug 66 having vent opening 66a for the passage ofair therethrough. Attached to the lower end of the vent tube is an airrelief valve 67 having a port 68 providing communication between thevent tube and the reservoir. A valve member 69 is carried on a float 71retained within a perforate cage 72. When the level of the water in thereservoir is above the float the buoyancy of the float holds the valvemember against the port to prevent the passage of water outwardlytherethrough and when the water level drops below the float the weightthereof carries the valve member down to open the port and permit theescape of air from the reservoir through the vent.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the reservoir comprises the spacebetween the thimble 11 and the packer Z2, and both the air and water areconfined within this space except that the tube 37 and its extension tothe pressure switch 47 will be filled with air. In the embodiment shownin Fig. 3 the space within the casing extension 9 is utilized as atleast a part of the air expansion chamber. The only change in thestructure of Fig. 2 necessary to accomplish this is to open the pipe 37into the space between the thimble 11 and the well seal 38 which may beaccomplished by providing an opening 73 as shown in Fig. 3, therebypermitting communication between the pipe 37 and the interior of thecasing extension.

Operation Assuming that the system has been installed as described andthe pump has cycled a sufficient number of times to bring the properratio of air and water into the pressure storage chamber, opening of theusual valves in the service line 14a or associated piping brings about aflow of water from the lower portion of the reservoir through theopening 2111 into pipe 21, thence through chamber-12 and out through theservice pipe 14a, the water being forced out by the pressure within thestorage chamber. This flow is accompanied by a reduction in pressurewithin the storage chamber and when this reaches a preselected minimum,the pump is automatically started in response to operation of thepressure switch. In systems of this character the pressure switch, as iswell known, is arranged to close the circuit to the motor at a lowpressure setting and open the circuit at an elevated pressure setting,both of which settings are adjustable within the switch in order to givethe necessary pressure characteristics at the faucets in the system.Thus, when the pressure within the pressure chamber reaches this lowsetting of the pressure switch, the pump 34 is started in response tooperation of the pressure switch 42. At the outset of pump operation thevolume of air carried in the riser pipe above the bleeder valve will beforced into the pressure chamber past the check valve 31 followed by aflow of water and the pump will continue to operate until the pressurewithin the chamber reaches the cut-out pressure for which the switch 42is set. During this operation air is free to flow down the pipes 45 and47 into the casing below the packer. When the pump stops at the end ofeach cycle, the bleeder valve 35 eopens allowing the upper end of theriser pipe to again fill with air preparatory to the next pumping cycle.

As previously mentioned, the distance between the bleeder valve 35 andthe check valve 31 is selected so that with repeated cycling of the pumpmore air will be introduced in the chamber than is necessary to maintainthe desired air to water ratio. The excess of air is vented off throughthe air release valve 67, and to this end the float is positioned in thereservoir so that when the liquid level within the chamber reaches itslower predetermined level, the weight of the float and the valve 69 actsto open the valve. This vents ofl air allowing the pressure within thetank to fall until the pump restarts. As the level of water within thechamber rises, it lifts the float and (38111865 reclosing of the airvalve 69, the pump continuing to operate until the pressure on the airin the tank reaches the cut-out pressure for which the switch 47 is set.An important feature of this construction lies in the fact that thefloat and air vent system is effective in determining the length of thepumping interval by regulating the air to water ratio in the tank."Thus, when the vent tube 64 is of such length that the float is locatedin the upper portion of the chamber, the water level in the chamber willbe high and a relatively small proportion of air with respect to waterwill exist. Therefore the introduction of only a small amount of waterinto the chamber will elevate the pressure to the cut-out setting andstop the pump. The same is true with respect tothe starting of the pump,the withdrawal of only a relatively small amount of water acting to dropthe pressure to restart the pump. The reverse is, of course, true, andwhen the float is positioned low in the chamber, a relatively largeamount of water will be displaced between the stop and start pressuresof the system. This is of advantage in adapting the system to thecondition of the well. Where the system is installed in a free flowingwell with plenty of water, the float can be set at a low point in thechamber to provide a maximum amount of water usage between pumpingcycles. When the system is installed in a well in which the water supplyis limited, the float can be adjusted to ride high in the chamber and asa result, the pump will operate through a shorter pumping interval withincreased frequency so that the water in the well does not draw down toa point where the pump no longer'receives its full capacity of water.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that by providing the opening 73,the space within the casing extension 9 may be used to form at leastpart of the air storage capacity of the chamber, thereby enabling thepacker 22 to be placed at a higher point in the casing for the samewater capacity or this opening may be incorporated to increase thecapacity of the system over what it would have with the arrangementshown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that according to the invention the ordinary casing ofthe well forms the pressure storage tank of the water system so that noadditional tank is necessary for this purpose. Furthermore, the entirepumping system is carried on the casing through the thimb'le 11 whichbears against the shoulder 19 for this purpose. As a result, the entiremechanism may be withdrawn from the well casing'through the casingextension 9 which is of slightly greater diameter than the well casing.An important further advantage of this construction is that the water isstored under pressure in the pressure tank below ground level so thatthe water does not heat up as is commonly the case with the usualpressure storage tanks. Another advantage lies in the fact that theentire system is under a positive pressure so that any leakage is in anoutwardly direction and contamination of the water supply cannot occur.A further advantage lies in the fact that power for operation of thesystem can be brought in directly from the commercial power lines anddoes not need to pass through buildings such as the house. Therefore, inthe event of fire, the pumping system will most likely be maintained inoperation. In addition, this type of construction obviates many of thedifliculties associated with separate storage tanks such as sweating" ofthe tank. Furthermore, service lines can radiate directly from the wellas distinguished from the house where the storage tank is located in thebasement. Another advantage lies in the fact that the pump deliversdirectly into the pressure chamber so that there is a minimum of lossthrough pipe friction. While the apparatus has been described inconnection with conventional water supply systems, it will be obviousthat many of the features thereof are equally applicable to pumpingother liquids and the application is not to be construed as limited tosolely the pumping. of water.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic pressure storage system comprising a well closureextending from a point above ground downwardly into the well comprisinga conventional well casing tube, a casing extension and a discharge headconnecting the casing tube and easing extension, said discharge headhaving a lateral outlet pipe connection, a lower packer seal spanningthe casing above the lower end thereof in annular sealing engagementwith the inner surface of the casing, said packer seal having an inletpassage, a second packer seal disposed in said discharge head having adischarge chamber communicating with the lateral pipe connection, thesecond packer seal including means for sealing the interface between thepacker and the discharge head above and below said chamber to form, withthe casing tube and lower packer seal, a liquid reservoir, meanscommunicating with said inlet passage for pumping liquid from the wellinto the reservoir, means communicating with the reservoir for chargingair into the reservoir to provide an air cushion in response to theintroduction of liquid into the reservoir, a pressure switchcommunicating with the reservoir to control the operation of the pumpingmeans in response to changes in pressure in the reservoir, means forventing excess air from the reservoir, and conduit means extending fromsaid chamber downwardly in the reservoir to a point near the lowerpacker seal for drawing ofi liquid from the reservoir through saidchamber and outlet connection.

2. The combination of claim 1, including a conduit connecting the casingtube space below the lower packer seal to atmosphere, said conduitextending through the reservoir out of communication therewith.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pumping means is disposed inthe well below the lower packer seal and is supported on the lowerpacker seal by a riser pipe through which liquid is pumped to thereservoir, a check valve is provided in the vicinity of the lower packerseal to prevent return flow from the reservoir, a second check valve isdisposed below the first mentioned check valve and the aforesaid meansfor charging air to the reservoir comprises means for draining a portionof the liquid from the riser pipe between the check valves and replacingthe same air while the pumping means is inactive.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for venting excess airfrom the reservoir comprises a float actuated air release valve insidethe reservoir and an air release conduit extending upwardly therefromthrough said second packer seal and into communication with theatmosphere.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises apipe interconnecting said lower packer seal and said second packer seal,the pipe having an opening adjacent the lower packer seal for theentrance of liquid.

6. A pneumatic pressure storage system comprising a 1 well closureextending from a point above ground downwardly into the well comprisinga conventional well casing tube, a discharge head secured to the upperend of the well tube below ground level having a lateral dischargeconnection and a casing extension secured to the discharge end andextending upwardly to a point above ground level, the casing, extensionand discharge head being connected in superimposed fluid-tight relation,a

lower packer seal spanning the casing above the lower end thereof inannular sealing engagement with the inner surface of the casing, saidpacker having an inlet passage, a second packer seal disposed in saiddischarge head hav ing a discharge chamber communicating with thelateral discharge connection and including means for sealing theinterface between the packer and the discharge head above and below saidchamber to form, with the casing tube and lower packer seal, a liquidreservoir, an upper well seal spaced upwardly from the second packerseal spanning the casing extension, a riser pipe depending from thelower packer seal communicating with said inlet passage, pumping meansattached to said riser pipe for pumping liquid from the well into thereservoir through the riser pipe, an air charging device for chargingair into the reservoir, and means for releasing excess air from thereservoir through said upper well seal.

7. A pneumatic pressure storage system comprising a well closureextending from a point above ground downwardly into the well comprisinga conventional well casing tube, a discharge head secured to the upperend of the well tube below ground level having a lateral dischargeconnection and a casing extension secured to the discharge end andextending upwardly to a point above ground level, the casing, extensionand discharge head being connected in superimposed fluid-tight relation,a lower packer seal spanning the casing above the lower end thereof inannular sealing engagement with the inner surface of the casing, saidpacker having an inlet passage, a second packer seal disposed in saiddischarge head hav-- ing a'discharge chamber communicating with thelateral discharge connection and including means for sealing theinterface between the packer and the discharge head above and below saidchamber to form, with the casing tube and lower packer seal, a liquidreservoir, an upper well seal spaced upwardly from the second packerseal spanning the casing extension, said upper seal forming, with thesecond packer seal and the casing extension, an upper chamber, a riserpipe depending from the lower packer seal connecting with said inletpassage, pumping means attached to said riser pipe for pumping liquidfrom the well into the reservoir through the riser pipe, an air chargingdevice for charging air into the reservoir, means for releasing excessair from the reservoir through said upper seal, a drop pipe connectingthe upper well seal andthe second packer seal spanning the upperchamber, and means connecting the second and lower packer seals forremoval of the packer seals, riser pipe and pump as a unit with removalof the upper well seal.

8. The combination of claim 7 having a pressure switch located above theupper well seal, said drop pipe being in open communication with thereservoir and the pressure switch for controlling operation of thepumping means in response to pressure changes in the reservoir.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the drop pipe is imperforate andis secured to the upper seal and the second packer seal in fluid-tightrelation to prevent communication between the reservoir and said upperchamber.

10. The combination of claim 8 having means providing communicationbetween the reservoir and the upper chamber to retain in the upperchamber at least a portion of the air providing the air cushion for thereservoir'.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means for releasing excessair comprises an air release conduit within the drop pipe extending fromthe reservoir to a point at atmospheric pressure above the upper wellseal and a float actuated air release valve secured to the air releasepipe within the reservoir.

12. The combination of claim 6 having an air vent conduit extendingdownwardly in the well enclosure, the upper end thereof being open toatmosphere and the lower end thereof opening into the casing tube spacebelow the lower packer seal to admit air into the well, said conduitbeing imperforate between its ends.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said pumping means comprises asubmersible electric motor pump secured to the riser pipe within thewater in the well and conductors for supplying electrical energy theretoextending downwardly into the well through said air vent conduit.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,280,087 Hollander et al. Apr. 21, 1942 2,657,633 Baker et al. Nov. 3,1953 2,657,637 Baker Nov. 3, 1953

